Biogeochemical Cycles

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What are biogeochemical cycles?

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Biogeochemical cycles are natural processes that recycle nutrients in various chemical forms from the environment to organisms and back to the environment.

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What is the carbon cycle?

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The carbon cycle is the process by which carbon is exchanged among the atmosphere, land, water, and living organisms, involving processes like photosynthesis, respiration, and decomposition.

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What is photosynthesis?

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Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods with the help of chlorophyll, converting carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen.

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What is cellular respiration?

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Cellular respiration is the process by which cells convert glucose and oxygen into energy, carbon dioxide, and water.

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What role do fossil fuels play in the carbon cycle?

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Fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, store carbon that is released into the atmosphere when burned, contributing to the carbon cycle.

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What is precipitation in the water cycle?

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Precipitation is any form of water, such as rain, snow, or hail, that falls from the atmosphere to the Earth's surface.

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What is the nitrogen cycle?

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The nitrogen cycle is the series of processes by which nitrogen and its compounds are interconverted in the environment and in living organisms.

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What is nitrogen fixation?

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Nitrogen fixation is the process of converting nitrogen gas (N2) from the atmosphere into ammonia (NH3) or related compounds in soil, making nitrogen available to plants.

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What is the role of decomposers in biogeochemical cycles?

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Decomposers break down dead organic matter, returning nutrients to the soil and making them available for uptake by plants.

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What is the phosphorus cycle?

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The phosphorus cycle is the movement of phosphorus through the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere, primarily through the weathering of rocks and uptake by plants.